The Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael E. Langley, has called for a united African-led security response to the growing threat of terrorism across the continent.
He warned that extremist networks continued to advance toward West Africa’s coastal nations, including Ghana.
“African militaries are not waiting to be saved; African militaries are taking on security challenges head-on, and leverage opportunities for their nations to achieve stability and prosperity,” he said.
Gen. Langley, stressed that coastal countries like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin were now on the frontline in the battle against violent extremism.
“One of the terrorists’ new objectives is gaining access to West Africa coasts,” he cautioned.
Speaking during a virtual press briefing following the Africa Chief of Defense Conference in Nairobi, General Langley highlighted the significance of African-led solutions in countering terrorism, instability, and insecurity.
The conference brought together senior military leaders from over 37 African countries for what he described as a “powerful” dialogue on long-term strategies.
Headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, the U.S. Africa Command is one of seven joint-service geographic combatant commands and is responsible for all U.S. military operations and activities to protect and advance U.S. national interests in Africa.
General Langley said, “The dialogue here was powerful. It was focused on African-led solutions, regional cooperation, and long-term security strategies,” he said.
AFRICOM, Langley explained, was increasingly focused on building self-reliance among African nations by addressing the root causes of terrorism.
“That means tackling instability at the local level – through intelligence sharing, capacity building, and institutional strengthening – using and recommending tools beyond just the military might,” he said.
He underscored that true security must begin within communities and that, “Security is rooted in the strength of communities. Militaries must therefore be deeply integrated into society writ large to ensure safety and prosperity.”
He acknowledged Ghana’s role in pushing back terrorist expansion and said, “Our coastal partners – Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin – are fighting fiercely along their northern borders to prevent terrorist expansion, and U.S. AFRICOM is standing with them.”
To support this vision, AFRICOM is shifting its engagements toward readiness for independent operations, promoting military exercises that build regional capacity.
Gen. Langley, a U.S. Marine Corps, who became the sixth commander of the U.S. Africa Command in August 2022, cited “Justified Accord” — East Africa’s largest military exercise — as a model of collaboration.
“Kenya – along with Djibouti and Tanzania – they led from this front in the 2025 exercise by co-hosting the exercise. This is the kind of regional leadership exactly in the direction of where we want to go,” he said.
Langley described the deteriorating situation in the Sahel as alarming, stating “The Sahel is where we consider the epicenter of terrorism – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are confronted with this each and every day; they’re in crisis.”
He said, “Terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida are thriving, particularly in Burkina Faso, where the government has lost control of wide swaths of territory.”
He expressed concern that extremist groups were becoming more sophisticated and increasingly targeting coastal access.
“Attacks are resurging in the Lake Chad region as well, and extremist groups are growing more aggressive,” he said.
Addressing AFRICOM’s direct counterterrorism actions, particularly in East Africa, Gen. Langley said, “In support of the Somalia Federal Government, the U.S. is actively
pursuing and eliminating jihadists… this year alone AFRICOM has conducted over 25 airstrikes – double the number of strikes that we did last year.”
Drawing from his visits across Africa, Langley said he had witnessed the power of youth and civil society to drive peace and innovation.
“In Algeria, I met with a youth robotics team applying technology to solve local problems – that is proof that African innovation will be a force of stability in the future,” he said.
As he prepares to end his tenure as AFRICOM commander, Gen Langley reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to long-term partnerships on the continent.
“It’s about empowering African nations to solve African problems, not just through handouts but through trusted cooperation,” he said.
“A safe and stable and prosperous Africa is not a charitable goal. It’s a strategic necessity for the United States and for our African partners.”
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